The mastopexy or breast lift surgery is mainly used to get rid of excess amount of skin, fat as well as reshaping the muscles of the breast area. This surgery assists to reshape and support the new contour of the breast by tightening the surrounding tissues.
Prior to the surgery, the patient has to go through some lab tests and medications for the evaluation of his/her current medical condition. A patient usually takes a baseline mammogram before and after the surgery, which is used to identify the future modifications in the breast tissues.
If a patient has a habit of smoking and taking the nicotine products, this has to be stopped for some period before and after the surgery because this can hinder the rate of blood flow to the minute vessels, which supply blood to the nipple area.
At the start of a breast lift surgery, surgeon measures and put marks on the breasts to indicate prospective incision areas. General anesthesia is given to the patient through intravenous line or by inhalation before commencing a breast reduction surgery. The patients feel no pain during this procedure as this type of anesthesia puts them in state of temporary unconsciousness.
Various incisions patterns and procedures are involved in this 2 to 3 hours breast lift surgery. Using an anchor-shaped incision is mostly preferred by surgeons and this incision is done roughly along the areola going downwards towards the breast near the crease of the breast and abdomen and horizontally in the crease under the breast.
This surgery involves removal of excessive breast tissue, fat and skin to diminish the breast size. If the sizes of tissues are comparatively small, surgeon may make the straight incisions.
If the breast is very large and droopy, the surgeon may have to remove the areola and the nipple and then reattach them later using skin grafts at higher positions. By detaching the nipple and areola from their blood vessels and nerves, a patient may loose sensation permanently and may not be able to breast feed her infant.
After a breast lift surgery, the patient experiences relief of pain in her upper back, neck and shoulders; reduction in pressure caused to the shoulder from bra straps. It also helps to increase stamina and the patient will now be able to participate in physical activities and facilitate a positive self-image.
